New Principal to Lead Burr Intermediate School

Commack students and their parents might be surprised to find out that will have a new principal next year.

Commack School District officials announced that Rhonda Pratt has been hired to take over for current Burr Intermediate principal Charles Heppeler, Jr. at the end of the current school year.

Heppeler, who has served as the principal of Burr Intermediate School for 24 years, plans to retire in June.

"Mrs. Pratt is a dedicated, creative, and highly-motivated individual with expertise in literacy, data driven decision making, technology, budgeting, and character education," said one member of the selection committee, according to the district's website.

Pratt currently works as principal of Bayview Elementary School in West Islip since 2007. She started her career in education as a reading specialist at North Central School District in upstate New York. Since then, Pratt worked as an administrative intern at an elementary school in Phoenix, Ariz. before moving back to New York in 2007.

“I consider it an honor to have been appointed principal of Burr Intermediate School and I am very excited about this opportunity. I look forward to meeting the staff, students, and parents within the community and working together to enrich the lives of each and every student," Pratt said in a statement.

Pratt lives in Oakdale with her husband and Labrador Retriever, buddy. The new principal said she enjoys reading, skiing and spending time outdoors.